I am so sorry to anyone who has been waiting for this next chapter, if anyone was still waiting for me to update ;_;

It's been a few months already, and my passion for writing has emerged again.

The writing might be a little rusty and awkward, so just bear with me!

Also, I have a question for anyone reading this.

Out of curiosity, how many people think Shih-na is going to die in the end of this story? I'm not sure how I'm going to end this story yet, and I'd like to know what you all think And would you be happy if Shih-na died in the end? Well, maybe I should say instead… 'Would you be satisfied with the story if she died in the end? Or would you be happier if something else happened to her?' I'd love your feedback. Anyways, enjoy =]

Seventeen and Eighteen—The Past—Year 2012:

"Shih-na, is there anything you can say you despise?" Lang asked as they sat in a small coffee shop. They had just arrested a suspect in the smuggling ring.

She paused, and thought about this. She replied, "There's nothing in particular."

Lang laughed, and said, Ah, that's good." He leaned back, and took in a deep breath. "Actually, there's something I loathe very much."

Shih-na leaned in a little, curious as to what her superior could hate.

"I really hate prosecutors."

She just stared at him, and he laughed again. "The reason I bring it up is because that person we apprehended who was in the smuggling ring… he was a prosecutor."

Shih-na nodded her head.

Lang exhaled deeply. "I'm sorry, you probably hate having to listen to me complain." He took a sip of his coffee.

"Actually…" Shin-na calmly said, not showing any expression.

Lang raised an eyebrow and shifted his full attention to his secretary.

Why am I going to lie, Shih-na thought, for the sake of this man's feelings…? "I… I also dislike prosecutors."

Lang's eyes widened. "Aiya, that's such a coincidence," he muttered, leaning in closer to find out the reason why.

When Lang did not say anything else, Shih-na continued. "I guess… I don't like them because they're not very honest with their work." She looked down impassively at the table in front of her as her boss continued to stare at her with unending curiosity.

Lang took a gulp of his coffee, and replied, "They are also very corrupt." He scowled as he put down his coffee. "They are the reason the House of Lang's name is tarnished."

Shih-na nodded as she silently drank her coffee.

The Present—Year 2019:

The judge took sat down comfortably and said, "So, I'm supposing you're going to plead 'not guilty', Ms. Shih-na?"

"Actually, I'm going to plead 'guilty'," Shih-na responded.

Lang widened his eyes. "Shih-na…?"

She took in a breath. She pulled off her right glove slowly, revealing a pale hand, with a beautiful bronze bangle wrapped around her wrist. She flinched as she saw this, and quickly put her arm down to try and forget about it.

Everyone else ignored this sudden reaction from her, but Lang noticed it. And he seemed to flinch, too.

Forty-Eight and Forty-Nine—The Past—Year 2016:

"Thanks for accepting my invitation to eat out," Lang said as he strolled down the street with Shih-na.

She looked up at him with her shiny crimson eyes as she replied, "What's the occasion, Lang?" She pulled down the sleeves of her coat and tried to warm her chilly hands.

Lang looked away from her, and with his face getting warmer, he said back, "No occasion, really… We just don't get a lot of days to just relax, right?" He smirked, but he was looking forward and not at her.

True… Shih-na thought, still a little suspicious of the out-of-the-blue call. She nodded her head.

They were quiet while the street bustled with the endless chatter of people and the honking and beeping of cars around them.

Suddenly, Lang stopped walking, and Shih-na slowed her steps too, wondering why he just stopped all of a sudden.

"Actually," he said, his face a little red, "This is the real reason I wanted to take you to eat out today." Digging through his pocket, he finally found a bronze bracelet with and intricate design carved into it, and held it in his hand.

"I found this while I was going through my old belongings from Zheng Fa," he stammered, staring at the bracelet and not Shih-na. "My father told me that it was some kind of good luck charm, but I think it would be better in your hands."

Shih-na stared at the bracelet, and said, "Thank you. I'll take good care of it." She took it started to put it on, before Lang stopped her.

"I'm sorry, Shih-na, but that must be worn under your gloves." He looked down when he said this, like he was ashamed to inform her.

She paused, and then shook her head. Without saying another word, she pulled off her right glove and revealed a pale, fragile-looking hand. Lang secretly watched as she slowly put the bracelet on. After the bracelet was securely around her wrist and under her glove, she looked at her superior and again said, "Thank you."

Lang replied half-heartedly, "… You're welcome." After a few seconds in awkward silence, Lang spoke up again. "Aiya… you're probably wondering why I instructed you to do that…" He finally looked up at his secretary and smirked. "The other subordinates will get jealous if they find out I gave you something so personal of mine. I hope you understand."

As Lang got up to go back to the Agency, Shih-na lagged behind him, and when he wasn't looking, she softly smiled.

The Present—Year 2019:

"M-Ms. Shih-na, are you completely fine right now?" the judge asked in surprise. "Why, I don't think I've ever had someone just plead 'guilty'…"

She sighed, and tried her hardest not to look at Lang. "If you would listen, Your Honor, you would see that you have sufficient evidence to convict me of murder."

Again, she held up her hand, her pale, thin fingers almost trembling. "If you would be so kind as to run a fingerprint check on my hand, you will find out something surprising."

The judge widened his eyes. "Surprising like what?"

She balled her hand into a fist out of reflex and tried to focus on anything but Lang. "Surprising like… Finding out I have the same exact fingerprints as Calisto Yew."

Lang narrowed his eyes, again thinking of the endless number of aliases Shih-na could have had. She doesn't even remember her own name… he thought, scowling. He focused his intense, angry gaze at Shih-na.

"You have evidence, you say!" the judge exclaimed, his wide eyes showing his surprise. "I'd heard you were Calisto Yew, but I didn't think you'd be so willing to prove it…"

Shih-na forced a smirk on her face. "I've had a change of heart," she replied coolly.

Lang snapped, and was about ready to pounce on Shih-na. "Shih-na, what are you doing?" he roared as he was being held back by two bailiffs. "Why are you doing this?"

Shih-na opened her mouth to respond, but nothing came out. Before she could try to speak again, the judge banged his gavel and said with a tinge of fear in his voice, "Officer Lang, I think you should wait outside for the verdict to be announced…"

The bailiffs struggled to move Lang closer to the courtroom doors until he finally fell to his knees. "Shih-na…" he muttered in a sad growl.

"What is it?" she responded in a still cool voice. What he didn't see was the vulnerability that showed in her eyes for not more than a second.

He looked up at her, and gave her a look of defeat. "Whatever I did to deserve this treatment from you… I'm sorry." After he said this, he got up and walked out of the courtroom.

As he walked out, Shih-na widened her eyes and watched his retreating figure until her view was obscured by the large double doors.

"Now, let's proceed," the judge said, sighing.

Shih-na didn't respond, and instead stared at the wall, her mind wandering on to other things.

The judge cocked his head and scratched his beard. "Where were we…? Ah, right, your fingerprint. I shall call a forensic scientist immediately. Bailiff!"

The rest of the trial was a daze to Shih-na. The only thing she could think of was that dramatic episode Lang had before he was escorted out of the courtroom. She almost didn't hear the judge finally declare her guilty. She blinked at him twice, and let out a sigh.

"All right, Miss Shih-na, we'll be transporting you to the prison near here," a bailiff explained to her as he escorted her to a car.

Shih-na didn't say anything at first, but then slowly turned her head to the bailiff. Hesitantly, she opened her mouth and asked, "…How is Lang?"

The bailiff widened his eyes in surprise, and coughed awkwardly, replying, "A-actually, he's waiting for you. At the prison. He wants to speak with you… I think."

Shih-na sighed, and plopped into the seat of the car.

As she stared out the window and at the gloomy sky, her mind wandered automatically to the wise saying of Lang-Zi. Instinctively, she slowly mouthed, "Lang Zi says: The reason people judge people is because people are people. The reason people judge people…is because people…are people."

Eight—The Past—Year 2012:

Shih-na started to squint because she was so serious.

All Lang did was start to laugh.

"…May I ask what is so funny?" Shih-na said, trying to keep her voice at a monotonous, flat tone.

Lang caught his breath and smirked. "Shih-na, are you really having that much trouble reading Lang Zi's scrolls?"

Shih-na bit her lower lip in embarrassment. "I'm…sorry to say I haven't been reading anything in our native language since I came to America." She shuffled the scroll she had in her hand and tried to keep it away from Lang's sight.

But, nonchalantly, Lang sneaked up behind her. He snatched the scroll from her hands and held it out in front of her. "Aiya, you're never going to remember unless I help you," he joked.

Shih-na didn't laugh.

He coughed awkwardly. "Here, Shih-na, just hold the right side of the scroll as I point." She did as she was told, and felt increasingly uncomfortable—she could almost feel his breathing on her head, and she could smell the amazing cologne he wore every day since she worked under him.

"Okay, well…" he started, "as always, you should be able to comprehend that this first line says…"

"Lang Zi says." Shih-na answered. She half-turned toward him. "But, I just don't understand. The same characters repeat over and over again. Is it some sort of code…?"

Lang laughed again. "No, he just repeated the same thing over and over in this saying. This is one of my personal favorites, actually." He smirked. He traced over each character, translating it into English as he went. "The reason people judge people is because people are people."

"The reason people judge people…is because people are…people," Shih-na repeated, trying to memorize the wise saying.

"Good job!" Lang said, reaching out to ruffle her hair. But, before he did, he caught himself. "…Aiya. My apologies. We haven't known each other for more than a week and my familiarity with you is already so shamefully close."

Shih-na blinked a bit in surprise. "No, it's perfectly fine. Act the way you want…sir."

Lang immediately frowned. "Shih-na… 'sir' doesn't exactly fit with me, don't you think? Would you mind calling me something else?"

Shih-na almost started to laugh at him. Wait, I can't do that, she reprimanded herself, I'm supposed to have a mask of ice on. Still, she couldn't pass up the opportunity to crack a subtle joke. "…What, do you want to be called 'Shifu' or something?"

Lang didn't reply. No way, Shih-na thought in disbelief, is he really considering it? She stayed silent, waiting for what response she would get. "…Shih-na…" Lang started, "That is brilliant!" He started to laugh, and Shih-na almost dropped her jaw. Was he serious?

Shih-na wanted to clean up the mess she made, fast. "I, was kidding, si—"

"Shifu is fine…" Lang said, still grinning from ear to ear. "It's fitting, anyway." He put down the scroll they read and picked up another one. "Let's get going. We have tons more scrolls to go over."

As Lang fiddled with the terribly knotted string holding the scroll together, Shih-na smirked. Well, she thought, this is going to be a lot more fun than I thought.